Chapter 2
Chapter 2
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: The Little Sister Rolls In (2)
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A bit hurt, but I press on with the conversation without backing down.
"Ah-ha! It won't work, huh. I wonder why?"
"Um... Living with Yoon-seul... is hard."
"Hard? For who?"
Yoon-seul pointed at me with her fern-like little finger.
Grandma clicked her tongue with a tsk.
"Ugh, sorry about that. I've taken the kid to your place a few times, and she must've heard some unnecessary comments again."
She was talking about her friend.
Probably saw Grandma raising her all by herself and felt bad for her.
Must've said something unnecessary to Yoon-seul.
She's an elder and Grandma's friend, so it was natural for her to offer concerned words.
"Yoon-seul, then does it feel burdensome or unpleasant for you to stay here with me?"
"Mm..."
Yoon-seul shook her head vigorously side to side.
"Or are you worried that I'll be the one having a hard time?"
This time, she nodded up and down.
"Yoon-seul, if you don't hate it, could you give me your hand for a second?"
She held out her adorably tiny hand.
A hand even smaller than my palm.
For her age, she listens really well.
I've seen all kinds of kids at the meat restaurant, so I know how savage five- or six-year-olds can be.
A kid this gentle is rare. If she'd grown up in a normal family, she must've been loved a lot.
She turned out to be such a good kid because Grandma raised her well.
I gazed deeply into her bright, sparkling eyes.
Yoon-seul didn't look away, staring right back.
Her life hasn't been smooth, and she could've been cowed by all sorts of situations, but her gaze was straight and true.
I could feel her strong spirit.
"Yoon-seul, you know, living in this house with you wouldn't be hard at all for me. In fact, I'd be really grateful."
"Grateful..?"
"Yeah, really grateful. Because I've lived in this house alone for seven years. All by myself, without any family."
Hearing that, Yoon-seul raised her eyebrows in surprise.
Her already big, round eyes grew even larger.
"Wow, Yoon-seul hasn't even turned five yet..."
"Right? I've been alone for a really long time."
Yoon-seul nodded.
She's at that age where she uses a lot of non-verbal expressions.
"So, I think I'd be even happier if Yoon-seul stayed here with me...
If you don't hate it, want to try living together?"
Only then did she seem to mull it over, humming "uuung—" for a while, furrowing and unfurrowing her brows.
Her gaze quickly turned toward Grandma.
Ah, is she worried about Grandma?
She probably feels grateful to her in her own way.
Grandma raised her in place of her parents.
Even if she wanted to part, their bond would make it hard.
And yet, amid all this back-and-forth, she wasn't flustered at all—she was so composed. Impressive for someone not even five or six yet.
"Grandma will come visit often if Yoon-seul stays in this house."
With seventy years of life experience, Grandma doesn't lose to anyone in reading the room. You can feel her seasoned savvy in how she jumps right in.
"Then if I stay here, will I see Grandma often?"
"Of course. I'll come to see Yoon-seul and Oppa."
"Mm, Oppa...?"
This time, Yoon-seul blinked at me a few times and said "Oppa." again.
That must be how she'll recognize me from now on.
Her heart seems to be swaying this way.
Her eyes darted back and forth between Grandma and me.
This is when I need to land the finishing blow.
"Yoon-seul, let me tell you a secret, so lend me your ear for a sec."
She obediently brought her ear close to my face.
I whispered softly.
'If Yoon-seul stays at our house, you can eat chocolate. I love chocolate a ton, too.'
As I finished, I looked at Yoon-seul's face—her eyes sparkled brightly. Just as expected.
Grandma doesn't let her eat sweets much, worried they'll rot her teeth.
But sweets run in our family. When I was little, I even resented Grandma a bit for it.
Yoon-seul must be similar in that way.
This time, Yoon-seul waved her hands up and down at me, gesturing wildly. She wanted to borrow my ear.
I did, and her soft, spring-breeze-like voice tickled my ear.
'Oppa, I like choco too! We're the same.'
She covered her mouth with her hands and giggled.
Usually, appealing to kids this age with secrets or similarities works nine times out of ten.
I picked it up subtly from serving tables with kids at the meat restaurant, but I never thought I'd use it here.
Yoon-seul toddled over to me—dodo-do—and plopped down. Just moments ago, she'd been stuck to Grandma, but now her attitude was totally different.
Like a puppy. I absentmindedly stroked her head.
It was fluffy, like cotton candy or cashmere knit.
This cute little thing was my little sister.
A new family member had rolled in.
Grandma watched the scene and smiled gently.
I thought it was a beautiful smile I hadn't seen in a while.
**
In the end, Grandma went back home.
I told her to stay the night,
But she countered with, "How are three people supposed to sleep in a cramped place like this?"
Straight to the point. It stung a little.
My one-room was actually just seven pyeong, so even with Yoon-seul, it wouldn't be spacious.
'Still, stay the night. I'll make space somehow. I'll sleep on the floor.'
'No need, dear. I've already bought my bus ticket and everything, so don't worry—just take good care of Yoon-seul.'
I sensed her resolve from the part about the bus ticket. Couldn't hold her back anymore.
She's such an elder, and when she gets stubborn about stuff like this, I have no way to stop her.
So I told her to visit whenever she had time, and suddenly she said she'd come to see Yoon-seul.
What a sentimental person.
"Yoon-seul, shall we wash up and go to bed now?"
The clock already pointed to 10:30.
For a five-year-old, it'd be normal to nod off any second.
But Yoon-seul's eyes were still wide awake.
New place, so she probably needed a bit of scouting to get used to it.
She'd been wandering around, checking out the one-room's layout. Seven pyeong might seem pretty big to a kid.
"Yoon-seul, you don't wanna sleep?"
"Mm, gotta sleep late."
"Shall we wash our faces together, pu-pu-pu?"
"Mm..."
She didn't seem thrilled.
I couldn't figure out why, but another clock that had entered our house today revealed the reason.
Gurgle—!
"Ah..."
Stomach clock.
As the sound came, Yoon-seul clutched her belly with both hands and tilted her head.
"Yoon-seul, you didn't eat dinner?"
"Didn't eat..."
Oops, my mistake.
Should've fed the kid first.
Why didn't Grandma feed her until this hour?
No.
It's on me.
I don't stock much food at home to begin with.
Grandma doesn't come over often, so she probably didn't know what to feed her.
Plus, with her bad back, coming and going must be tough.
Was she just wandering around instinctively looking for food?
That thought made me uneasy.
Anything else is fine, but I can't let the kid go hungry.
I squat in front of Yoon-seul and clasp my hands together apologetically.
"Sorry, Yoon-seul. I didn't know you were hungry. I'll make food right now, so wait just a bit."
She patted my head in return. Just like Grandma does.
"I'll wait good."
Hearing her mature reply, I quickly headed to the kitchen. Kitchen as in a sink and a single gas burner.
What can you expect from a rundown bachelor pad like this.
I open the cupboard above the sink.
Instant ramen, Spam, and some instant Sagol Broth—that's it.
The Sagol Broth I bought during Lunar New Year to make some tteokguk alone and feel festive; two packets left.
I've lived alone all this time, so I never stocked food specially, but I wish I'd bought proper stuff knowing this would happen.
But ask this seven-year veteran bachelor what dish he's most confident in, and it's instant ramen without a doubt.
Not exactly praiseworthy for a five-year-old, though.
Even if I went out to buy food now, only convenience stores are open. Their instant stuff or ramen would be equally bad for you.
"Let's get through today with ramen, sorry little sis. Just three minutes."
But I'll make it a little special. Using the leftover Sagol Broth.
I pour the broth—not water—into the pot and set it on the burner.
The milky broth already conjures umami in my mind.
Once it starts boiling furiously, I add about half the spice packet first.
Can't make it too salty since Yoon-seul's eating.
The broth base should carry the flavor anyway.
I shake in all the solid bits, then lay the noodles on top.
Snap—!
"Gotta break it in half for the kid."
Now, the three-minute wait.
But I don't just stand there.
My ramen is never just the basic instant stuff.
The crowning flourish: scallion-flecked egg drop.
Even my fridge-dry-as-a-bone house has green onions and eggs stocked.
The flashy knife skills I learned from Boss during part-time.
Tap dance on the wooden board.
Tap-tap-tap-tap!
0.5 cm chunks even a kid can chew.
"The scallions are uniform in thickness."
One thing I learned well: knife work.
I toss the scallions in early to infuse the broth. Their fresh bite cuts through the rising richness!
With Sagol Broth as the base, they pair better than any lovebirds.
Egg goes in right before turning off the heat.
The ultimate timing: half-cooked when served, ready to burst with a spoon.
"Perfect, perfection itself."
Ah, I got lost in self-admiration without realizing.
I was slyly holding chopsticks up like a chef pose—embarrassing.
Gotta feed my sister quick.
"Yoon-seul, come here! Let's eat."
I said that and turned around.
Damn, Yoon-seul saw everything.
She's mimicking the pose I struck behind me.
Shame in the middle of the night.
Not living alone anymore, so I gotta watch my actions from now on.
Heart pounding a bit, but I play it cool.
She's just a kid anyway.
"Yoon-seul, can you use chopsticks?"
"Um... No."
Of course not. Grandma said she's exactly five. No kid training chopsticks here, so fork it is.
I pull out the low table and set it in the middle of the one-room. Pot on top, steam rising invitingly.
Perfect for this chilly day—hot soup warms the heart too.
"Yoon-seul, ready to eat?"
"Yeah, bon appétit!"
I ladle some broth and noodles onto her small plate, and Yoon-seul snatches the fork—whoosh!—and dives in.
Her eyes fierce like a baby predator.
She knows how to eat, huh..?